Maintenance strategy for dust removal and cleaning of laser cutting machines

As a high-precision equipment in modern industrial manufacturing, the stability of the performance and cutting accuracy of laser cutting machines are crucial to production efficiency and product quality. However, during long-term operation, laser cutting machines will accumulate a lot of dust and dirt, which will not only affect the heat dissipation performance of the equipment, but also may cause failures in the optical path system, mechanical system and electrical system. Therefore, formulating an effective dust removal and cleaning maintenance strategy is of great significance to extend the service life of laser cutting machines and improve production efficiency. This article will introduce in detail the maintenance strategy for dust removal and cleaning of laser cutting machines to help users better maintain the equipment.

1. The importance of dust removal and cleaning of laser cutting machines

During operation, laser cutting machines will generate a lot of dust and smoke, which mainly come from the melting, evaporation and oxidation of cutting materials. If the dust and smoke cannot be discharged in time, they will accumulate inside the equipment to form a dirt layer. The dirt layer will not only affect the heat dissipation performance of the equipment, causing the equipment temperature to rise, but may also block the optical path system and affect the transmission and focusing effect of the laser beam. In addition, the dirt layer may also cause corrosion and wear to the mechanical and electrical systems, accelerating the aging of the equipment. Therefore, regular dust removal and cleaning maintenance of the laser cutting machine is essential to maintain the performance of the equipment and extend its service life.

2. Maintenance strategy for dust removal and cleaning of laser cutting machines

‌Daily cleaning‌

‌Daily pre-startup inspection‌: Before starting the machine every day, the working environment of the laser cutting machine should be thoroughly checked to ensure that the work site is clean and free of debris. At the same time, check whether there is dust accumulation on key components such as the cutting head and focusing lens. If necessary, use special lens cleaning paper or cotton swabs for cleaning.

‌Cutting waste cleaning‌: After the daily cutting work is completed, the cutting waste should be cleaned in time to prevent waste from accumulating inside the equipment. At the same time, clean the work site to keep the environment clean.

‌Fan cleaning‌: The fan is an important heat dissipation component of the laser cutting machine, and dust is easily accumulated after long-term use. Therefore, the fan should be cleaned regularly to ensure that its exhaust and heat dissipation effects are good. When the fan has insufficient suction or poor exhaust, it needs to be cleaned in time.

‌Regular maintenance‌

‌Optical path system cleaning‌: The optical path system is one of the core components of the laser cutting machine, and its cleanliness directly affects the cutting accuracy and efficiency. Therefore, the optical path system should be checked and cleaned every month to ensure that there is no dust or dirt on the surface of optical components such as reflectors and focusing mirrors. When cleaning, use a special lens paper or cotton swab, dip in an appropriate amount of cleaning liquid, and gently wipe from the center of the lens to the edge in a rotating manner to avoid scratching the lens surface.

‌Guide rail and lead screw cleaning‌: The guide rail and lead screw are the moving parts of the laser cutting machine, and their cleanliness directly affects the movement accuracy and stability of the equipment. Therefore, the guide rail and lead screw should be cleaned every half a month to remove dirt and impurities on their surface. When cleaning, use dry cotton cloth and lubricating oil, first remove the dirt, then wipe it gently with cotton cloth, and finally apply lubricating oil to keep it running smoothly.

‌Electrical system cleaning‌: The electrical system is the control component of the laser cutting machine, and its cleanliness directly affects the operating stability and safety of the equipment. Therefore, the electrical system should be cleaned regularly, including components such as the electric control cabinet, motor, and cable. When cleaning, use dry compressed air or a vacuum cleaner to remove dust and debris, and avoid using a damp cloth or water for cleaning.

‌Deep Cleaning and Maintenance‌

‌Cooling System Cleaning‌: The cooling system is an important heat dissipation component of the laser cutting machine, and its cleanliness directly affects the heat dissipation effect and service life of the equipment. Therefore, the cooling system should be cleaned regularly, including components such as the cooling water tank, water pump, and radiator. When cleaning, turn off the power, unplug the water inlet pipe, let the water in the laser tube automatically flow into the water tank, then open the water tank, take out the water pump, remove the dirt on the water pump, clean the water tank, and replace the new circulating water.

‌Replacement of Consumable Parts‌: During the long-term operation of the laser cutting machine, some consumable parts such as the cutting head and focusing lens may wear or age, affecting their performance and life. Therefore, the status of these consumable parts should be checked regularly, and if necessary, they should be replaced in time.

‌Inspection and adjustment of the whole machine‌: Regularly inspect and adjust the laser cutting machine, including the horizontal adjustment of the machine tool, calibration of the optical path, parameter setting of the electrical system, etc. Through inspection and adjustment of the whole machine, it can be ensured that the various performance indicators of the equipment are in the best state, and the cutting accuracy and efficiency are improved.

III. Case analysis

A user of a laser cutting machine found that the cutting accuracy of the equipment decreased and the operating noise increased during use. After inspection, it was found that a large amount of dust and dirt accumulated inside the equipment, which caused the optical path system to be blocked and the guide rails and lead screws to be severely worn. After the user fully cleaned and maintained the equipment according to the above dust removal and cleaning maintenance strategy, the cutting accuracy and operating noise of the equipment were significantly improved, and the production efficiency was also improved.

IV. Conclusion and Prospect

The maintenance strategy of dust removal and cleaning of laser cutting machines is the key to maintaining equipment performance and extending service life. Through daily cleaning, regular maintenance, and deep cleaning and maintenance of the equipment, the dust and dirt inside the equipment can be effectively removed, and the optical path system, mechanical system, and electrical system can be kept clean and stable. In the future, with the continuous development and innovation of laser cutting technology, the equipment will have a higher level of intelligence and automation, and the dust removal and cleaning maintenance strategy will be more complete and efficient. At the same time, users should also strengthen their awareness of daily maintenance and care of the equipment to improve the efficiency and life of the equipment.